Gaming Chip

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a gaming chip ( 1 ) comprising a transparent top wall ( 2 ), a bottom wall ( 3 ) and a circumferential wall ( 4 ) extending there between, said walls ( 2, 3, 4 ) forming a cavity ( 7 ). According to the invention, at least one of the top and bottom walls ( 2, 3 ) being arranged to be easily releasable and attachable, and the circumferential wall ( 4 ) comprises an aperture ( 7 ) and in that the gaming chip ( 1 ) further comprises valve means ( 6 ) arranged to open or close said aperture ( 8 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gaming chip comprising a transparenttop wall, a bottom wall and a circumferential wall extending therebetween, said walls forming a cavity, in accordance with the preamble ofclaim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Casino chips of differing shapes, sizes and colours are well known anddiffers depending of the value and the gaming establishment and casinowhere the chips are being used. Nowadays it is also known to use casinochips having a central transparent portion, which makes an inner unitvisible to the observer, on one or on both sides of the chip.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,261 it is known a gaming chip with a generallytoroidally shaped body, a hollow sealed chamber fixedly mountedgenerally centrally within said toroidally-shaped body; and at least onediscrete particle loosely mounted and movable within said hollow sealedchamber so that, when said chip is shaken, said particle abuts againstthe walls of said hollow sealed chamber providing a rattling sound. InU.S. Pat. No. 6,021,949 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,376 there are alsoknown gaming chips with a hollowed body in which a unit is placed. Theseunits can't be replaced without damaging the gaming chip.

All gaming establishment and casinos add their trade mark or/andlogotype to their gaming chips. This invention enables all gamingestablishment, casinos and private players to add their special unit,that, for example, can be a material, message, logotype or denotation inan interchangeable way.

When putting such a unit in a casino chip an overpressure is created insaid cavity as a consequence. The result of the overpressure might bethat the at least one wall of transparent material releases from theouter frame resulting in an exposure of the content in the cavity.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a gaming chip that canbe easily releasable and attachable and that overcome the problemsmentioned above.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects are achieved by the present invention as defined in theindependent claim 1. Appropriate embodiments of the invention are setforth in the dependent claims.

Thus, there is defined in accordance with the present invention a gamingchip comprising a transparent top wall, a bottom wall and acircumferential wall extending there between, said walls forming acavity, characterized in that at least one of the top and bottom wallsbeing arranged to be easily releasable and attachable, thecircumferential wall comprises an aperture and in that the gaming chipfurther comprises valve means arranged to open or close said aperture.

The advantage afforded by the inventive gaming chip resides in that thecircumferential wall of the gaming chip is provided with an aperture andthat the gaming chip comprises a valve means arranged to open and closesaid aperture. As a result of this arrangement it is possible todischarge an overpressure inside the gaming chip. For instance, thevalve means can be a screw or a plug.

According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive gaming chip,said gaming chip further comprising a seal arranged to seal between thereleasable/attachable wall and the circumferential wall.

According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive gaming chip,said gaming chip further comprises a unit in said cavity. This enables auser to provide the cavity of the gaming chip with any type of material,message, logotype or denotation etc, that he/she prefers. For example,said unit can be fixed mounted in said cavity.

According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive gaming chip,said valve means is formed to be arranged detachably in said aperture.This enables the chip to be dismounted and hence the user can change oradd other type of material, message, logotype or denotation etc, thathe/she prefers.

According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive gaming chip,said circumferential wall is circular.

According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive gaming chip,said sealing device is a gasket.

According to another preferred embodiment of the inventive gaming chip,said circumferential wall is circular.

These preferred embodiments of the inventive duct connecting device areset forth in the claims dependent on the accompanying claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference toexemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming chip, and shows a gaming chipwith one transparent wall, one seal and the valve means in a non-mountedstate;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the gaming chipaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the gaming chipaccording to the present invention,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate two different embodiments of the gaming chipaccording to the present invention. However, it is emphasized that theinvention is in no way restricted to connecting devices of this type andthat the inventive concept can be applied to various types of gamingchips.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming chip 1 according to the presentinvention. The gaming chip 1 in FIG. 1 comprises a transparent top wall2, a transparent bottom wall 3, a circumferential wall 4 and a seal 5and a valve means 6. In this embodiment the top wall 2, the seal 5between the top wall 2 and the circumferential wall 4 and the valvemeans 6 are in a non-mounted state. The valve means 6 in this embodimentis a screw, but it can of course be other types of valve means 6, forexample a plug. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the gamingchip 1 has a circular shape, but of course it can have any type ofshape, for example a rectangular shape. In fitting the seal 5, the seal5 is displaced so as to seal between the releasable/attachable wall 2, 3and the circumferential wall 4. When the gaming chip 1 is mounted, thewalls 2, 3, 4 of the gaming chip 1 is forming a waterproof cavity 7, inwhich it is possible to put a unit (not shown), for example, a material,message, logotype or denotation. The circumferential wall 4 is providedwith an aperture 8, which can be opened or closed by the valve means 6,in this case the screw, to make it possible to discharge an overpressureinside the gaming chip 1. The assembly of the unit (not shown) in thecavity 7 of the gaming chip 1 is made before mounting the gaming chip 1.When the transparent top wall 2 and the transparent bottom wall 3 havebeen assembled to circumferential wall 4 and the seal 5 is arranged toseal between the top and bottom walls 2, 3 and the circumferential wall4, and when the air is no longer in the cavity 7 of the gaming chip 1,said aperture 8 can be closed by said valve means 6. The result is awaterproof gaming chip 1 with no overpressure problems.

Whenever a need arises to open the gaming chip 1 to change or alter theunit in the cavity 7 the aperture 8 is opened by said valve means 6. Thecavity 7 is then injected air through the aperture 8 resulting in arelease of the transparent top and bottom walls 2, 3 and hence also in arelease of the material, message, logotype, etc creating the possibilityfor interchangeability. Since the production method doesn't require anymoulding nor gluing, all parts of the gaming chip 1 can be reused inreassembly.

FIG. 2 illustrates one possible configuration of the gaming chip 1according to the present invention. The illustrated gaming chip 1comprises a releasable and attachable transparent top and bottom wall 2,3. Two seals 5, 9 are provided between the top and bottom wall 2, 3respectively to seal between said walls 2, 3 and the circumferentialwall 4. The gaming chip 1 is in a non-mounted state. In this embodimentthe circumferential wall 4 is provided with diamonds 10, but of courseit is possible to provide it with any type of stones. In fact, thematerial used for the gaming chip 1 might, for example, consist ofprecious metals, gemstones, diamond or any other metal. The type ofmaterial for the gaming chip 1 can be chosen just for the purpose ofmaking the chip 1 beautiful and/or to help in differing the chip fromother type of chips. Of course the chip 1 is not limited in terms ofshape, size and proportions.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplifying embodiment of a gaming chip 1. Thegaming chip 1 in this figure has a rectangular shape, but as mentionedabove, the gaming chip 1 can have any type of shape. The gaming chip 1in FIG. 3 comprises a transparent top wall 2, a transparent bottom wall3, a circumferential wall 4 and a seal 5 and a valve means 6. In thisembodiment the top wall 2, the seal 5 between the top wall 2 and thecircumferential wall 4 and the valve means 6 are in a non-mounted state.The valve means 6 in this embodiment is a plug, but it can of course beother types of valve means, for example a screw. When the gaming chip 1is mounted, the walls 2, 3, 4 of the gaming chip is forming a waterproofcavity 7, in which it is possible to put a unit (not shown), forexample, a material, message, logotype or denotation. Thecircumferential wall 4 is provided with an aperture 8, which can beopened or closed by the valve means 6, in this case the screw, to makeit possible to discharge an overpressure inside the gaming chip 1.

1. A gaming chip (1) comprising a transparent top wall (2), a bottomwall (3) and a circumferential wall (4) extending there between, saidwalls (2, 3, 4) forming a cavity (7), wherein at least one of the topand bottom walls (2, 3) is arranged to be easily releasable andattachable, the circumferential wall (4) comprises an aperture (8), andthe gaming chip (1) further comprises valve means (6) arranged to openor close said aperture (8).
 2. The gaming chip of claim 1, including aseal (5) arranged to seal between the releasable/attachable wall (2, 3)and the circumferential wall (4).
 3. The gaming chip of claim 1, whereinthe valve means (6) is formed to be arranged detachably in said aperture(8).
 4. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein said valve means (6) is ascrew.
 5. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein said valve means (6) is aplug.
 6. The gaming chip of claim 1, including a unit in said cavity(7).
 7. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein said unit is fixed mountedin said cavity.
 8. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein said seal (5) isa gasket.
 9. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein said circumferentialwall (4) is circular.